Latest Nissan ProPilot cruise control protects the right lane

Nissan’s latest ProPilot 2.1 semi-autonomous cruise control – currently being rolled out in North America – could help mitigate Australia’s obsessions with hogging the outside lane seeing as it reminds drivers to keep left after a successful overtake.

Currently available on the Rogue (X-TRAIL), Armada (Patrol) and latest Infiniti QX80, the ProPilot 2.1 system is capable of detecting a successful pass and prompting the driver to move back out of the overtaking lane via a message on the instrument cluster.

There catch is, however, the prompt only surfaces when the semi-autonomous suite is active, and even then, that’s only possible on geofenced roads that have been mapped using high-definition Google Maps.

The tech is also unable to automatically move left on its own.

There’s no word yet as to when ProPilot 2.1 will be introduced in Australia, but it’s expected to star in the upcoming Y63 Patrol when it finally arrives here in late 2026.

Vehicles must keep left unless overtaking where a sign applies, or the speed limit is over 80km/h (except WA or Queensland where the limit is 90km/h) – even if the road doesn't include signage.

Victoria Police started issuing fines for right-lane-hoggers in 2023 while the Surf Coast Police will now issue $192 fines and two demerit points for those caught travelling in the right lane for over a kilometre.

While undertaking is largely frowned upon in the majority of European countries, in Australia it remains lawful to use the left lane to pass other vehicles, despite the risk of an unobservant driver merging left without checking their mirrors.

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